Dumping apparatus



C. S. WILLIAMSON AND W. H. HAZARD.

.DUMPlNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 191B.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1;

C. S. WILLIAMSON AND W. H. HAZARD.

DUMPING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FI LED JAN. 29', 1918.

r 1 ,360,607, Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

F 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES S. WILLIAMSON AND WILLIAM H. HAZARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; SAID HAZARD ASSIGNOR OF HIS ENTIRE RIGHT TO THE MEAD-MORRISON MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

DUMPING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV. 30, 1920- Application filed January 29, 1918. Serial No. 214,296.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES S. lVIL- LIAMSON and W'ILLIAM H. HAZARD, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dumping Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for dumping coal, ore, or the like and more particularly to a form of apparatus for picking up a car bodily and turning it over into such position that the contents will be quickly dumped therefrom.

Among the objects of our invention is to render possible the dumping of coal, ore, or the likefrom cars with much greater etficiency, and economy than heretofore known; further to increase to the maximum the simplicity of construction and operation of the dumping apparatus; further to provide such apparatus that the assistance given by the.

counterweight to the hoisting mechanism in lifting the car will be greatly increased up to a certampoint beyond which the counterweight cables will act in a much more posi tive manner in firmly holding the car in position in the cradle; further to pass the counterweight cable through the cradle and clamping mechanism and entirely around the car whereby to give this cable free movement with relation to the cradle as the latter swings; further to provide novel means for locking the car in the cradle; further to provide novel means for moving the car into engagement with the side of the cradle as the latter starts to swing, and the platform track into alinement with the main track as the cradle returns to normal position; further to .pro ide novel means for raising the clamping arms away from the car as the cradle returns to normal position; and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear.

our invention further resides in the com bination construction and arr: ngement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while we have shown therein a preferred embodiment of ourinvention we desire the same to be considered as illustrative Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View showing the cradle and car 1n a mid-position while being swung from normal to dumping position.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the mechanism for automatically raising the clamping means away from the top of the car.

Fig. 4 is a detail view ofthe mechanism for moving the car toward the side of the cradle.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the end portion of the rod for sliding the car platform sidewise, and the bifurcated hook just prior to engagement therewith.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings our improved dumping device consists generally in thecradle C upon which is mountedthe slidable platform or platen -1 carrying the rails 2, upon which can be rolled the car 3.. The cradle (1 is pivotally mounted at 4 to the fixed upright support 5 and extending around the front portion of the cradle is the hoisting cable 6 which continues to the rearside of the cradle where it is suitably secured thereto at '4'. and which cable passes around a hoisting drum 8 suitably operated by any desired source of motive power.' By rotating the. hoisting drum 8 and winding up the cable 6 it will thus be seen that the cradle will be swung about the pivot 4 into the position indicated in Fig. 1 by dotted lines. In order to assist the hoisting cables 6 in swinging the cradle C, and also to securely hold the car within the cradle when in dumping position, we have provided the counterweightv cable 9 carrying at one end any suitable number of counteiwveights 10. This cable, as shown, passes over the sheave 11 and continues downwardly and passes through the cradle C entirely around the car 3, and is secured at its .free end to the overhead frame work at 12. The cradle is provided with sheaves 13, let and 15 i its horizontal member as shown in Fig. 1 over the former two of which sheaves the cable 9 passes when the 'cradle is in its normal position. After passing these sheaves the cable continues upwardly and over the sheaves 16 and between the sheaves 17 and 18, the latter three sheaves being carried by the clamping mechanism which comprises the member 19, and head 21 pivotally connected at 20. The head 21 is formed with a downwardly projecting extension which slidably passes through the guide way 22. From this general description it will be seen that when the cradle C is being swung around the pivot 4 by means of the hoisting cables 6, this swinging will be facilitated by the counterweight 10, producing an upward pull in the cable 9. gresses upwardly in this swinging movement the counterweight cable 9 will accommodate itself to-the constantly changing position of the cradle by appropriately moving over the above described sheaves in the cradle and with relation to the sheaves.

clamping mechanism. By continuing the counterweight cable 9 through cradle C and entirely around the car 3 and securing the free end of the same to a point as shown overhead, a much greater lifting effect (which will be added to the lifting force of the hoisting cable) will be produced than if the counr terweight cable were merely fixedly secured to the cradle. As the cradle C continues to move upwardly the clamping member 19 and head 21 finally come into contact with the top of the car, after which time the portion (30 of the hoisting cable 9 willth'en exert a positive pull upon the outer end of the clamping member 19, thus pressing the same against the top of the car and firmly clamping it in position upon the cradle. In Fig. 2 the cradle and car are shown in a position in which the car is still held by gravity within the cradle ing means 1.9 and 21 just referred to. In this extreme position it will be seen that the tendency of the counterweights 10 will be to return the cradle and car to normal position upon the paying out or unwinding. of the hoisting cable 6. In following-the movements of the cradle from normal to dumping position it will be seen that the position of the counterweight cable 9 will be changed For example, in Fig. 2 it will be noted that the counterweight cable has left the sheaves 13 and 18 and has passed into engagement with the sheave 17, while in the dotted position in Fig. 1 this cable has further changed its position so that the portion ()0 thereof is in en- As the crade C pro tion 9 has passed into engagement with the sheave 15. This provides an extremely flexible arrangement and one which renders possible the maximum of etlicicncy in the operation of the clamping means 19 and 21 as well as greatly facilitating all operations of handling the entire weight of the cradle, car and its contents.

Referring to the apparatus more in detail. the cradle comprises the upright portion 30 and the horizontal portion 31 at the outer end of which is provided a plurality of suitable grooves 32, into which grooves fit the hoisting cables 6, which cables, as stated above, are secured at their ends to the upright portion of the cable at 7. As will of course be understood, the cradle will be composed of a suitable number of frame members longitudinally spaced from each other, there being preferably two end members comprising the upright 30 and horizontal portion 31, between which end members will be spaced four. (or any other number desired) other frame members of a substantially similar construction. The end mcm bers just, described will carry the pivotal mountings 4L andto these end members will also be secured the hoisting cables 6. The counterweight cables 9 will pass through the sheaves referred to above, and which sheaves are located in the four intermediate members just referred to. Upon the upper surface of the horizontal portion of the cradle will be mounted .the transversely slidable platform or platen 1, carrying the track 2 upon which the car is supported. As coal cars and the like are often. of different widths. and as it is necessary that the side of the car be in engagement with the side of the cradle prior to being clamped therein, we have provided means for sliding the car transversely upon the cradle after the same is rolled thereon. This means comprises the platform or platen 1 which is mounted on wheels 32 adapted to roll upon the upper surfaces of the cradle members. In order to. effect the rolling of the wheels '32 and the consequent movement of the platform or platen and car we have provided the platen rod 33, which. as shown in Fig. 1. extends through the platform 1'and is'tixed thereto, so that the platform will move laterally as this rod is moved hmgitudinally. In order to effect a moving of this rod in appropriate direction to move the side of the car to ward the side of the cradle, we have provided at its longer end a specfiil mechanism, shown in Fig. 4- in which it will be seen that at the outer end of this red there is suitably journaled a roller 34 whic'hv'hen the cradle isin normal position contacts with the face' io of the block 36 fixed to the tionary member 5 is a bifurcated hook 537,

which as shown in Fig. 5 comprises the two arms 38 and 39, theouter ends of each of which is formed on its under surface with the projection 40 adapted to take over the respective ends of the shaft 41, upon which the roller 34 is mounted. The shape of the projection 40 is such that when the ends of the shaft -41 move against the same from right to left (the angle or locking plate 42 not having as yet reached the end of the hook during the return of the cradle to normal position) the projection 40 will ride over the shaft 41 and cause the hook .to drop into the position shown in Fig. 4, after which the foot portion of the angle plate 42 will ride over the hook and hold it from rising. Secured to the side of the cradle is this angle plate 42 which is so positioned as to be closely above the upper surface of the.

hooks 38 and 39 and when the cradle starts to swing up will hold them in engagement with the shaft 41 until the appropriate distance. has been traveled through. The operation of this track sliding means is as follows: Assuming that a car of maximum width has been rolled on to the track 2 (it being desirable that the sides of all cars rolled thereon amply clear the sides of the cradle in order to prevent damage of parts), and that the car stands in the position shown in Fig. 1. lVhen the cradle is started in its upper swinging movement the hooks 38 and 39 by virtue of their being held by the angle or locking plate 42 in engagement with the shaft 41 will prevent the movement of the platen rod 33, the consequence of which will be to cause the track platform 1 to slide to the left (see Fig. 1) until the locking plate 42 has moved clear of the hooks 3S and 39 allowing them to then swing up and release shaft 41 in the end of platen rod 33 by which time the angle of rotation will be suflicient to cause the platen to move by gravity until the side of the car contacts with-the side of the cradle, at which time the platen rod 33 will be free to move when the cradle is in normal position.

upward with the cradle. Upon the return of the cradle the roller 34 will strike the block 36 and again returnthe track 2 into registry with the main track thus insuring proper registry of these tracks at all times If desired, a set screw 43 may be fitted through the hooks 38 and 39 to come in contact with the top of the block 36 whereby the position of these hooks with relation to the shaft 31 may be adjusted within certain limits. As the roller 34 approaches the block 36 the. hooks 38, 39 will engage the shaft 41 after which they will be held thus by the angle plate 42, which during further movement of the cradle toward its normal position passes closely over the upper surface of these hooks.

As stated above, when the cradle has swung through a certain distance the clamping member 1 9,.will come into engagement with the top of the car. However, in returning the cradle to normal position it is found desirable to provide means for forcibly elevating the face'44, of the head 21, away from the car. In order to effect this, we have provided a mechanism which will now be described. As stated above, the head 21 of the clamping means is formed with an extension slidably passing downwardly through the guide ways 22, whichextension is designated at 45 in Fig. 3, and has pivotally connected at its lower end one or more rods 46 which carry at the lower ends the roller 47 mounted on the shaft 48. Pivotally connected to the lower end 0 fthe rods 46 and .49 1s a transversely extending brace rod- 50, which at its outer end is pin connected ing means will descend until it contacts with the upper edge of the car, the roller 47 in the meantime having been carried by the cradle to the right and away from the cam plate 53, which movement to the right, due to the change in angularity of the rod 46 with relation to the cam plate 53. together with the slidable mounting of the extension 45 in'the guideway 22, permits the rod 46 and head 21 to descend. After the car has been dumped and the cradle is being returned to normal position, the head 21 still being in contact with the upper surface of.

the car the roller 47 will, due to this extended position, strike the cam rail 53 at some point adjacent theportion 54, and as obvious, due to the change in angularity of the parts, the roller 47 during its travel from the point 54 to its normal position shown in Fig. 1 will cause an upward thrust on the rod 46 and extension 45 and thus raise the head 21 away from the top of the car. Any bending of the rod 46 will be prevented by the brace-rod 50.

From the above description it will be seen that when a loaded car has been rolled on to the platform 1 and the cradle started on its swinging movement the platen rod 33-, by virtue of being held through a short period of time by the books 38 and 39 will move the ,car sidewise until the hooks are released from shaft 41. At this point (or immediately thereafter) the inclination of the cradle will be such as to permit gravity to then move the platform and car through any further distance necessary to cause theside of the carto contact with the 'side of the cradle. After the cradle has swung -through a further distance the head 21 will then drop into clamping position upon the inner upper edge of the car. As the swinging is.

continued, the lower face 50 of the clamping member 19 will then come into engagement with the outer edge of the car and the clamping means will from then on to the end of the swinging movement firmly clamp the car into position in the cradle. Upon the return of the cradle to its normal position a point will be reached at which the surface 50 of the clamping member 19 will be raised away passes through the cradle and entirely to freely hold the cradle in the bight of said around the car a much greater lifting effect will be produced thereby than if this cable were rigidly secured to the cradle, this being caused by the fact that there are two active portions to the counterweight cable which when multiplied by their lever arms will together produce a greater turning-moment that would a single cable (rigidly fixed to the cradle) when multiplied by its lever arm. This arrangement of counterweight cable also makes possible the novel form of locking means described above, and produces a much more flexible, efficient, simple and economical arrangement than would be possible were such cable fixedly secured to the cradle.

Ve claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described a swinging cradle adapted to carry a car thereon, a hoisting cable fixedly secured at one end to said cradle, and a counterweight cable passing through said cradle beneath and over said car to substantially encompass the same and secured at the end opposite the counterweight to a point independent of the cradle.

2. In apparatus of the class described a swinging cradle adapted to carry a car thereon, sheaves on said cradle, a hoisting cable fixedly secured at one endto said cradle, a counterweight cable passing over said sheaves beneath and over said car to substantially encompass the same whereby last mentioned cable, said counterweight cable being secured at the end opposite the counterweight to a point independent of the cradle.

' 3. In apparatus of the class described a cradle adapted to swing a loaded car into substantially inverted position, means for swinging said cradle and car, and a counterably passing through said cradle beneath and over said car to substantially encompass the same.

4. In apparatus of the class described a cradle adapted to swinga loaded car into substantiallyinverted position, means for swinging said cradle and car, and a counter-' weight cable secured at its tree end to a pointindependent of said cableand slidably passing through said cradle beneath and over said car to substantially encompass the same, and means operated by said counterweight cable for clamping the car in the cradle.

5. In apparatus of the class described a cradle adapted to swing a loaded car into .substantially inverted position, means for swinging said cradle, a counterweight cable passing through said cradle beneath and over said car to substantially surround the same, means for clamping said car in said cradle, and means for automatically raising said clamping means awayfrom said car upon the return of saidcradle to normal position.

6. In apparatus of the class described a cradle adapted to swing a loaded car into substantially inverted position, meansrfor swinging said cradle, a counterweight acting upon said cradle, a transversely slid able track on said cradle for supporting the car, means for clamping said car in the cradle,

,means for automatically. raising said clamping means away from said car upon the return of the cradle to normal, means for holding said track stationary during the initial swinging movement of said cradle, and means for releasing said holding means when the cradle has moved. through a predetermined distance.

7. In apparatusof the class described a cradle adapted to swing a loaded car into substantially inverted position, means for swinging said cradle, a counterweight cable passing through said cradle and entirely around said car to substantially encircle the same, a transversely slidable track on said cradle, means for automatically sliding said track to move said car toward the side of said cradle as said cradle starts to swing whereby to bring the car into proper clanippassing through said cradle and entirely around said car to substantially encircle the same, a transversely slidable track on said cradle, means for automatically sliding said track to move said car toward the side of said cradle as said cradle starts to swing whereby to bring the car into proper clamping position, and means to automatically clamp said car in said cradle upon the c0ntinuation of said swinging movement, and means to automatically raise said clamp away from said car upon the return of the cradle to normal position.

9. In apparatus of the class described a cradle adapted to swing a loaded car into substantially inverted position, means for swinging said cradle, a counterweight cable passing through said cradle and entirely around said car to substantially encircle the same, a transversely slidable track on said cradle, means for automatically sliding said track to move said car toward the side of said cradle as said cradle starts to swing whereby to bring the car into proper clamping position, and means to automatically clamp said car in said cradle upon the continuation of said swinging movement. means to automatically raise said clamp away from said car upon the return of the cradle to normal position, and means for returning said track into registry with the main track as said cradle returns to normal position.

10. In a dumping apparatus a pivotally mounted cradle, adapted to swing a car into substantially inverted position, means to swing said cradle, a counterweight cable passing through said cradle, beneath and over said car to substantially encircle the same, and means to clamp said car into said cradle, said last mentioned means being actuated by the part of. said counterweight cable, which passes over said car.

11. In a dumping apparatus. a pivotally mounted cradle adapted to swing a car into substantially inverted position. means t swing said cradle, a transversely slidahle platform on said cradle, a rod fixed to said platform and projecting through said cradle, and means for holding said rod stationary during the initial swinging moven'ient of the cradle, whereby to cause the side of the cradle to move toward a car on the platform.

12. In a dumping apparatus. a supporting structure having a cradle pivotally mounted therein, means for swinging said cradle. a transversely slidable platform on said cradle adapted to support a car. and means for positively holding said platform stationary during the initial movements of said cradle. whereby to cause the side of the cradle to move toward the side of the car on the platform.

13. In a dumping apparatus a cradle, a transversely slidable platform adapted to support a car on said cradle. a rod extending transversely from and fixed to said platform, stationary supports to which said cradle is pivoted, a pivotally mounted hook independent of said cradle and adapted to engage the end of said rod to hold the same against movement as the cradle swings through a short distance whereby to move v roller being such that as the cradle swings to normal position the roller will come into contact with and move along said cam-rail whereby to lift said clamping means away from said car. and means to prevent bending of said rod when said roller strikes the cam plate.

15. In a dumping apparatus a cradle adapted to swing a loaded car into substantially inverted position, a locking means having an extension slidably mounted in said cradle,'a rod pivotally mounted on said extension and having a roller at its opposite end. a brace rod pivotally connected at one end to said first mentioned rod and at its opposite end to the cradle, a stationary camrail below said cradle. the relation between the cam-rail and roller being such that as the cradle swings to normal position the roller will come into contact with and move along said cam-rail whereby to lift said clamping means a way from said car.

16. In a dumping apparatus a supporting structure. a cradle pivotally mounted in said supporting structure and adapted to swing a loaded car into substantially inverted position. means for swinging said cradle. a transversely slidable platform on said cradle adapted to support said car. a rod fixed to said platform and extending reamvardly through said cradle. a lateral projection on the rear end of said rod. a hook mounted iinlependently of said cradle and constructcd to engage said projection to hold said rod and platform in a substantially stationary position as said cradle starts to swing whereby to cause the side oi said cradle to move toward the side of said car. and means for releasing said hook from said projection when the cradle has swung through a predetermined distance.

17. In a dumping apparatus a supporting structure. a cradle pivotally mounted in said supporting structure and adapted to swing a loaded car into substantially inverted position. means for swinging said cradle. a transversely slldable platform on said cradle adapted to support said car. a rod fixed to said platform and extending rearwardly through said cradle. a lateral projection on the rear end of said rod. a hook movably mounted independently of said cradle and constructed to engage said projection till released, and a projecting lug secured to said cradle to extend over said hook respectively whereby to hold said rod against movement the cradle starts to swing and to release said hook fromsaid rod when the cradle has swung through a predetermined distance.

18. In apparatus of the class described a cradle adapted'to swing a loaded car into substantially inverted position, a platform slidably mounted on said cradle and carrying a track to support said car, a rod fixed to said platform and extending to the rear oi said cradle. a bumping block against which the end of said rod contacts while the cradle is being returned to normal positionstantially stationary while the cradle is starting to swing and adapted to move clear of said hook and permit it to disengage said rod when the cradle has swung through a predetermined distance, after which the platform and car will move by gravity till the side of the car comes in contact with the side of the cradle.

19. In a dumping apparatus, a support ing structure having a cradle pivotally mounted therein, means for swinging said cradle, a transversely slidable platform on said cradle adapted to support a car, means for positively holding said platform stationary during the initial movements of said cradle, whereby to cause the side of the cradle to move toward the side of the car on the platform, and means for releasing said holding means when said cradle has moved through a predetermined distance.

In witness whereof, .we hereunto subscribe our naines to this specification.

CHARLES s.v WILLIAMSON. WILLIAM H. HAZARD. 

